Two trial proofs for Andy Warhol's iconic image of a dollar sign for sale at Bonhams

A Bonham's auction house staff walks past iconic 'single dollar' prints by Andy Warhol at Bonham's in London, Britain, 25 November 2011. The signed prints are estimated to fetch between 20,000 - 25,000 Euros at an auction in London that will take place on 29 November 2011. EPA/ANDY RAIN.

LONDON.- Two trial proofs for Andy Warhol’s iconic image of a dollar sign are for sale at Bonhams Print sale on 29 November in London.

The signed prints, estimated at between £15,000- 20,000, date from 1982 - just five years before the artist untimely death - and are based on paintings executed the year before. They are among the most obvious representations of the link he often drew between art and money, underlined by the high prices paid for them by collectors at the time and ever since.

Other works by Warhol in the sale include a fine “Campbell’s Soup 1: Pepper Pot” (est £7,000-10,000); ‘Mao’ at £15,000-20,000 and ‘Skull’ at £10,000-15,000.

Bonhams Director of Prints, Robert Kennan, said, ““Warhol continues to cast a spell over the contemporary art world and he is regularly voted the most influential artist of the 20th century. The very collectable single dollar sign works date from late in his career but have become emblematic of his approach to art and his keen sense of his own commercial worth.”

Also in the sale are five exceptional works by Warhol’s close friend, the tragic American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat who died of a heroin overdose aged just 27 in 1988 18 months after Warhol himself. The most successful and well known black artist of his generation he left a cache of unsold and un-exhibited work. These works, released by his estate, are estimated at £10,00-15,000 each.

Finally, there is a fine example of one of Richard Hamilton’s most famous works, ‘Release’ - his depiction of the arrest of Mick Jagger and art dealer, Robert Fraser, for possession of drugs at a notorious party at the country house of Bill Wyman. It is estimated at £15,000-20,000.

Often called the father of Brit-Pop, Hamilton, who died earlier this year, is also represented by ‘I’m dreaming of a Black Christmas’ (£8,000-12,000) and ‘Picasso’s Meninas’ (£15,000-20,000) - a witty take on Velazquez’s most famous picture as interpreted by another Spanish master, Picasso.